Why extend Muzaffarnagar riots probe, asks BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday questioned the six-month extension given to the Justice Vishnu Sahay Commission probing the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Party spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak alleged the extension was meant to shroud the real culprits behind the riots that killed 63 and rendered thousands homeless in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas.

"The commission has already spent three months in probing the matter. It has recorded over 300 testimonies and the government should clear the air on why was the extension required," the BJP leader said.

The BJP also accused Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of implicating its legislators and party leaders in riot-related cases.

"National Security Act (NSA) was slapped on our legislators Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, but it has been revoked and both have been given bail by courts," Pathak said while charging the Samajwadi Party (SP) of trying to gain political mileage out of the "unfortunate riots".

Pathak also said the commission's findings were now as good as dumped, because by the time the extension period comes to an end, the country would be in the process of forming a new government after the Lok Sabha 2014 polls.

The home department of the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday issued formal orders for a six-month extension to the Justice Sahay Commission.

Justice Sahay sought an extension and wrote to the government on the need of more time as more than 650 affidavits have so far come to the commission and an equal number were pending.

The commission, which has a camp office at Muzaffarnagar, is now being given an office in the state capital Lucknow.